Summary: Men have always struggled against God but God wants to win men to salvation and prepare them for eternal life.

INTRO.: The words of our text are typical of the story of the struggle which has always gone on between man and God. The book is the story of a man who thinks he knows more than God and will, in spite of everything, do things his own way and govern his own life.

First Jonah defies God, then the sailors pit their strength against God. Next, the Ninevites surrender to God. Finally, Jonah again confronts God for being too forgiving. This little book is just one chapter in the ongoing story of conflict between God and His creature, man.

I. Men have always fought against God.

A. In the Garden of Eden:

1. Adam and Eve had perfect fellowship.

2. Satan promised them equality, they "bit."

3. God responded with a penalty, but man’s rebellious spirit was not changed. The next sin was murder. It kept getting worse until God had to send a flood.

B. The entire history of the Jewish nation is the story of a struggle with God:

1. They started complaining immediately after leaving Egypt. Ex. 14:10

2. They complained all through 40 years in the wilderness and even suggested a return to Egypt

3. Once in the Promised Land, they rebelled against Him and built altars and shrines to pagan deities.

4. They provide a warning to us: I Cor. 10:7-11.

C. Daniel’s life under three foreign kings was one battle after another as those kings fought against God.

1. Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, both Babylonian kings, and Darius, the Mede all fought against God and finally surrendered.

2. The outcome of Shadrach’s, Meshach’s and Abednego’s encounter with Nebuchadnezzar is recorded in Dan. 3:28ff.

3. When you go up against God, He always wins. We may think we are doing well without Him in this life, but there will be a reckoning.

II. Just as He wanted to win the citizens of Nineveh, there are some of us He wants very much to win.

A. Saul of Tarsus is an example:

1. He persecuted the Church, believing in all sincerity he was serving God in doing so.

2. Until Jesus appeared and said, “I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.” Then he knew he had been fighting against God.

3. God had been “goading” him all along but Saul fought against God. It wasn’t easy. Acts 26:14